Revision of Master Flyer Award Program Policy
NBRC Items 2013-001 and 2013-002
An amendment to revise the NBRC Master Flyer Award Program was put forward for consideration and discussion by
the committee as a two-part proposal. Each entity was designated as being distinct and independent with regard to
voting, and subsequently would be discussed and voted upon individually following the respective discussion periods.
The first part addressed the fact that competitors are not currently required to be a member of the NBRC in order to
accumulate Master Flyer points, as stated in the introduction and 003-01. The second part addressed the current
requirement for attaining the Lifetime Achievement Award, which requires that 50% of acceptable points must be
earned from NBRC events, as stated in 003-02.
The existing Master Flyer Award Program before discussion and voting:
Policy Title: Master Flyer Award Program
Policy Number: NBRC 003
One of the NBRC’s objectives is to continually seek ways to encourage competition while promoting the
Birmingham Roller as a performing bird. The Master Flyer Award Program was established as a means of
recognizing those skilled fliers of Birmingham Rollers, who consistently have their kits performing on a
higher level than most, and is based on a points system that gives competitors a means of distinguishing
themselves from the roller community in general. To accumulate points towards recognition as a Master
Flyer, one must compete in a regional, national, or international competition recognized by the NBRC.
003.01 A flyer, regardless of membership, shall earn a cumulative total of 750 points in order to become
certified as a Master Flyer.
003.02 Master Flyers may continue to accumulate points beyond the Master Flyer requirement. NBRC
members accumulating a total of 1500 points, with at least 750 of those points earned from NBRC events,
shall receive a Master Flyer Lifetime Achievement Award (MFLA).
NBRC ITEM 2013-001
Requirement of NBRC Membership to Accumulate Master Flyer Award Program Points
Existing Print:
One of the NBRC’s objectives is to continually seek ways to encourage competition while promoting the Birmingham
Roller as a performing bird. The Master Flyer Award Program was established as a means of recognizing those
skilled fliers of Birmingham Rollers, who consistently have their kits performing on a higher level than most, and is
based on a points system that gives competitors a means of distinguishing themselves from the roller community in
general. To accumulate points towards recognition as a Master Flyer, one must compete in a regional,
national, or international competition recognized by the NBRC.
003.01 A flyer, regardless of membership, shall earn a cumulative total of 750 points in order to become
certified as a Master Flyer.
Proposal context as presented to the committee :
“NBRC members having reached the status of Master Flyer will be presented a plaque in recognition of his or her
achievement. Prior to 2002, points were awarded for placement on various levels of competition, but are now
restricted to placement in NBRC Flys and World Cup competition; points accumulated shall be based on the points
system in use at the time of such competition. Results of all NBRC Fly and World Cup competition events dating back
to their inception are inclusive in the standings. Master Flyer points previously recorded from state flys, local club
contests, and special event competitions, earned prior to 2002 are inclusive in the standings, however no more shall
be added.”
The proposal is to change the Introduction to add the requirement for membership in the NBRC in order for the NBRC
to track one’s Master Flyer points, and reads: To accumulate points towards recognition as a Master Flyer, one
must compete in a regional, national, or international competition recognized by the NBRC, and must be a
current NBRC member at the time the competition is flown in order to earn the appropriate points.
In addition, the wording in the first sentence of 003.01 would need to eliminate the phrase “regardless of membership”
and would read as follows:
003-01 A flyer shall earn a cumulative total of 750 points in order to become certified as a Master Flyer.
Reason for proposed change: The NBRC solely administrates the NBRC Master Flyer Program, with the Vice President assigned that responsibility. With the continued growth we have seen in the World Cup and NBRC
competitions, an ever-increasing amount of time and effort is required in calculating and inputting points, correcting
entries, etc., much of that for non-members. That time and effort would be more appropriately put forward for the
benefit of our paid membership. In order for someone to benefit from and be recognized by this NBRC program, they
should be a paid member of the NBRC so that both the NBRC and the member benefit from this program.”
Passed committe vote 20-2 1-28-13
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NBRC ITEM 2013-002
Eliminating Requirement that 750 MFA Program Points Must be Earned in NBRC Events
Existing Print:
003.02 Master Flyers may continue to accumulate points beyond the Master Flyer requirement. NBRC members
accumulating a total of 1500 points, with at least 750 of those points earned from NBRC events, shall receive a
Master Flyer Lifetime Achievement Award (MFLA). Recipients of the MFLA shall be presented a plaque in recognition
of their accomplishment and shall be granted a lifetime membership to the NBRC.
Proposal context as presented to the committee :
“The proposal is to eliminate the requirement that 750 points or 50% must be earned in NBRC events. The only
NBRC event is the National Championship Fly. With the ever-increasing challenges presented by Mother Nature,
etc. affecting all of us, some individuals, in addition to the competitors in other countries, are able to compete in either
the World Cup or the NBRC Fly, but not both. To achieve a total of 1500 pts as an NBRC member in either of these
competitions, or any combination of these competitions, is an impressive achievement, and should be rewarded as
such. That achievement would not be compromised in any way by eliminating the requirement that 750 of those points
be earned from NBRC events.”
Rejection Date: 02-04-13
Review Committee Overseeing NBRC Awards System
NBRC Item 2013-003
NBRC Item 2013-003
Review Committee Overseeing NBRC Master Flyer Award System to Ensure Process Integrity
To prevent erroneous presentation of Master Flyer and Lifetime Achievement awards, President Don Macauley
proposed the formation of a committee whose purpose would be to review pertinent records as a “check and balance”
system; in effect overseeing the process to ensure legitimacy and compliance with standards, rules, or laws.
The following proposal was submitted for consideration:
Integrity of Awards: To protect the integrity of the NBRC and its members, and in order to insure accuracy of records
and criteria met before presenting Master Flyer Program awards, all such awards shall be reviewed by a
committee. This committee will comprise of the Vice-President, who oversees Master Flyer programs, the SecretaryTreasurer, who maintains membership records and verifies eligibility status, and the Publishing Editor, who keeps club
archives in form of NBRC publications. Once all records and criteria are verified by this committee, they will then
forward the records and criteria met for justification of each award to the President. The President will give final
approval before awards are announced and presented.
If approved, the proposal would be added to Policy Number NBRC 003 (Master Flyer Award Program) as 003.07.
NBRC Item 2013-003
Vote Result: The item passed the committee by a 24-0 vote.
Acceptance Date: 02-11-13
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New Region Request – Division of Region 4 into Two Separate Entities
NBRC Item 2013-004
NBRC Item 2013-004
New Region Request – Division of Region 4 to Become Regions 4A and 4B
Competition members of Region 4, spearheaded by members residing in the state of Nebraska, requested that the
committee consider dividing the region into two separate entities. The current regional boundaries included a six state
area consisting of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Due to the large land
mass, it has long been a logistical hardship to conduct fly competition in a timely and cost-effective manner. The
Nebraska group requested the formation of the new region as it is becoming increasingly difficult for Region 4 to
function efficiently. The Committee openly discussed and gave consideration to dividing the region to accommodate
those requisitioning the separation.
The new region would be designated as 4B, and would include the states of Nebraska, North Dakota, and South
Dakota. Remaining in the existing region and designated as 4A would be the states of Iowa, Minnesota, and
Wisconsin. Region 4 RD Calder Parrot endorsed the split, with Nebraska member Ryan Santos declaring willingness
to serve as RD for the new region (upon presidential appointment) for the remainder of the year. The split was
designed and based upon logistical concerns so that members in both regions could enjoy more representation. The
competing membership in affected areas were in favor of the split.
NBRC Item 2013-004
Vote Result: The item passed the committee by a 23-0 vote.
Acceptance Date: 02-22-13
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Allowance of Canada Residents to Participate in the National Championship Fly
NBRC Item 2013-006
A formal proposal seeking allowance of Canadian residents to participate in the National Championship Fly
was introduced to the Executive Committee for its consideration and discussion.
EC Members — The following proposal, NBRC 2013-006, is submitted for discussion at this time:
Region 8A Director Jeff Meier has requested a proposal to allow Canada members to be able to fly in the NBRC
Championship Fly, should an existing region within the U.S. be willing to pick them up; effective in this year’s 2013
NBRC National Championship Competition. Due to the late timing of this request, for the 2013 competition, should
Canada be granted permission to fly this year and should any of them qualify, they will defer their qualifying spot to
the next highest score in the region in which they participated in the United States, but will be awarded the appropriate
number of Master Flyer points they earned for their qualifying spot. This will eliminate any need for the Finals Judge to
travel outside the U.S. this year.
NBRC Proposal 2013-006: Canadian NBRC members are hereby permitted to enter NBRC competitions and fly with
any existing region in the US that is willing to pick them up. This permission may be provided by any US Regional
Director who is willing to grant the Canadian members permission to enter the competition(s) in his region; and
approved by the NBRC Fly Director after being notified in writing or by e-mail, prior to the region’s qualifying round
competition being held, that such permission has been granted. Failure to notify the National Fly Director of the
inclusion of the Canadian members will result in the forfeiture of their right to participate. For the 2013 competition,
due to the late submission of this proposal, Canadian NBRC members are not eligible to participate in the finals
competition; however all members of the region, including the Canadian qualifier, will be awarded the appropriate
number of Master Flier Points they have earned in the regional competition. The regional qualifier for 2013 will be
designated as the US flier in the region in which the Canadian members are participating, who is awarded the highest
number of points in the 11-bird and/or 20-bird competitions. In all subsequent years, beginning in 2014, should a
Canadian NBRC member qualify for the finals in a US Region that has granted them permission to compete, their
spot in the finals will be honored and the finals judge is to be scheduled to travel to their location in order to judge the
qualifying kit or kits.
Historical perspective: On March 9, 2010 the NBRC passed a proposal that dissolved the dormant Canada regions,
as well as determined International members to be ineligible to fly in our annual national fly due to their inactivity. This
policy, recorded as NBRC Item 2010-01 (International Membership), in effect did away with Regions 10-11-12 and in
summary stated: “We welcome anyone that resides outside of the USA to join the NBRC under an International
Membership. International Members will not be grouped into Regions because they are not allowed to fly in the NBRC
National Championship Fly, and therefore they will not be represented by Regional Directors. International
Membership dues will be set by the Executive Committee, as per the NBRC by-laws.” Canada participated in what
was called the “Fall Fly” in past years, but the regions went dormant for several years and were dissolved by EC
committee vote in 2010.
Committee members agreed that in allowing Canadian residents to participate in NCF competition would significantly
benefit border regions struggling to attract enough flyers to meet the required minimum for legitimacy. The main
concern expressed involved the fact that US citizens crossing over the border to Canada are now required to possess
a passport for entry, a requirement since 2009. Canadian law states: “Anyone with a criminal record (including
misdemeanors or alcohol-related driving offenses) may not be able to enter Canada without first obtaining an approval
for rehabilitation well in advance of any planned travel.” Thus, border regions seeking outside entries would have to
screen potential judges to make sure they possess a valid passport and are able to cross the border. Equally
important, anyone who volunteers to judge the NCF Finals must possess, or obtain, a valid passport in the event that
a Canadian flyer wins the region and qualifies for the final round.
NBRC Item 2013-006
Vote Result: The item passed the committee by a 28-0 vote. 14 Members did not vote.
Acceptance Date: 09-16-13